ANR Headset for Rotax?

[rgmwa]

I'm building a plane that will be powered by the high-revving Rotax 912ULS. I currently use an X-COM passive headset (which I think is the same as the Recreational Flying headset). It works well enough in a Cessna, but I'm planning to convert it to ANR using a popular upgrade kit, which will hopefully make it considerably better while still retaining its passive qualities if the battery dies.

 

I suspect that the really expensive ANR sets like the Bose A20, and Lightspeed Zulu are optimised for Lycoming/Continental cockpits (but I believe these don't offer much passive attenuation if the batteries go flat).

 

What works best with a Rotax? Is it worth spending $1,000 on a headset, or does a good passive or cheaper ANR do the job just as well?

 

rgmwa

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

In general terms active cancellation / ANR works better for lower frequency noise, passive is more effective for upper mid / higher frequencies. Higher revving means a little less LF and more mid + upper mid. That's the theory, you really need to try out the different brands yourself of course to take in to account comfort etc. And as they say with electronics, don't buy it until you are ready to use it, it will be cheaper and better by then.

 

 

[Guest Howard Hughes]

When you open your headset you will find a lot of foam dampeners inside which provide the passive noise reduction. I would suggest buying a second set of foams and packing them in with your original ones, it will be very tight, but it is amazing how much difference it makes. I did this with a 20 year old David Clark headset and the difference was amazing.

 

 

[rgmwa]

Thanks guys. The ANR upgrade module seems to work well from all I've read about it, so I'll see how I go. And the second set of foams sounds like a good idea too.

 

rgmwa